God’s will from 1 Peter 1.13-16

The word “will” does not appear in this passage, but because of the frequency of commands like this: “be holy, because I am holy,” we can say confidently that this is what God desires from his people more than anything else. So if you want to please God, God’s will is that you work toward your holiness. Here are four motivations:

The return of the Son of God (13)- believers should be more motivated to be holy by setting their hope fully on the day Christ returns to judge the earth because that day means final, full redemption for believers.

The holiness of God (15-16)- of all the reasons God gives he says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” And this is basically the overacrching command of the Scriptures. Unbelievers, look to Christ, because he is holy. Believers, be holy, because God is holy.

The Word of God (15-16)- Peter could have stopped at verse 15, but he continued “for it is written,” and then he quoted Leviticus. The Word should motivate any true believer indwelt by His Spirit.

I would call this God’s revealed will, or God’s revealed desire. If you want to please God, be holy. God loves to see holy people because holy people look like His Son and His Son is His perfect image and God loves for His image to be spread out all over the earth, as the waters cover the seas.